Kuhn's Account Of Family Resemblance: A Solution To The Problem Of Wide-Open Texture

Author: Andersen H.

Source: Erkenntnis, Volume 52, Number 3, May 2000 , pp. 313-337(25)

Publisher: Springer

Abstract:

It is a commonly raised argument against the family resemblance account of concepts that, on this account, there is no limit to a concept's extension. An account of family resemblance which attempts to provide a solution to this problem by including both similarity among instances and dissimilarity to non-instances has been developed by the philosopher of science Thomas Kuhn. Similar solutions have been hinted at in the literature on family resemblance concepts, but the solution has never received a detailed investigation. I shall provide a reconstruction of Kuhn's theory and argue that his solution necessitates a developmental perspective with builds on both the transmission of taxonomies between generations and a progressive development through history.

Language: English

Document Type: Regular paper

Affiliations: 1: Department of Medical Philosophy and Clinical Medicine University of Copenhagen, Panum Institute Blegdamsvej 3 DK-2200 Copenhagen N Denmark E-mail: h.andersen@medphil.ku.dk

Publication date: 2000-05-01

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